Certified Peer Support Specialist
About the role
The Peer Support Specialist at Health Connect America provides peer support services to assigned clients. Using personal recovery experience as a tool, this role also involves family and community education, serving as a role model and mentor, providing support and encouragement to peers, navigating individuals to community resources, leading recovery education and activities, developing a Wellness Recovery Action Plan (WRAP), facilitating peer support groups, providing opportunities for socialization in the community, and outreach to people who have frequent inpatient hospitalizations or failed to engage with the behavioral health system. Additionally, this position supports individuals through the intake process, educates them on changes in healthcare reform, helps them understand their benefits, assists with SSI/SSDI benefits, and supports people through discharge and follow-up.
Responsibilities
- Use personal recovery experience as a tool
- Provide family and community education
- Serve as a role model and mentor
- Provide support and encouragement to peers
- Navigate/link individuals to community resources
- Lead recovery education and activities
- Develop a Wellness Recovery Action Plan (WRAP)
- Facilitate peer support groups
- Provide opportunities for socialization in the community
- Outreach to people who have frequent inpatient hospitalizations
- Outreach to people who have failed to engage with the behavioral health system
- Assist individuals to develop and implement a person-centered individual service plan
- Support individuals through the intake process
- Educate individuals on changes in health care reform
- Help individuals understand their benefits
- Support people through discharge
- Follow up after discharge (in-person, when needed)
- Empower others by helping them identify their strengths, support, resources, and skills
- Work as a wraparound facilitator (MS Only)
- Provide case management and coordination of services
Requirements
- Must be at least 18 years old
- Must have a mental health condition and/or substance use disorder, must be in recovery, must be open-minded, and must be willing to share personal experiences with mental illness/substance use publicly
- Must have a High School Diploma or equivalent (GED)
- Must have a valid driver’s license in state of employment with a safe driving record
- Must have successfully completed state-specific Peer Specialist training and exam
Qualifications
- Must be able to pass a comprehensive background investigation
Skills
- Strong communication and interpersonal skills
- Ability to build rapport and trust with clients
- Knowledge of mental health conditions and substance use disorders
- Experience in peer support and recovery-oriented care
- Ability to facilitate group discussions and activities
- Strong organizational and time management skills
- Ability to work independently and as part of a team
Benefits
- Full-time employees enjoy paid time off, paid holidays, and a comprehensive benefits package that includes medical, dental, vision, and other voluntary insurance products
- Access to an Employee Assistance Program (EAP) with 8 mental health counseling sessions annually
- Health Savings Account with company contribution
- Dependent Daycare Flexible Spending Account
- Health Reimbursement Account
- 401(k) Retirement Plan
- Additional benefits include tickets to events at Work
Pay
Competitive salary based on experience and qualifications
Schedule
Flexible schedule to accommodate client needs